The West Seattle VFW Post 2713 at 3601 SW Alaska St. hosted "An Evening of Music to Honor U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon S. Hocking" Saturday night, June 4. Hocking 24, was killed in Iraq March 21, just 10 days before retuning home after his second tour. He He was the lead convoy gunner and his vehicle took a direct hit. He was the only one killed in that vehicle. He was a munitions specialist, working with a mobile repair unit.

Brandon Hocking's mother Christine Pitts Dansereau, her sister Jodi (Pitts), Brandon's father's brother Jim Hocking, and Brandon's stepdad Calvin Dansereau all grew up in West Seattle. Brandon's father, Kevin, lives in Burien. Brandon was raised in South Seattle and Federal Way.

Over 100 filled the VFW hall. About half were West Seattle High School alumni, friends of Christine and her siblings from that time.

"He loved the army," said Janine Hocking Beaubien, Kevin's sister (and Brandon's aunt) who came in from Big Fork, Montana. "Brandon joined the Army at 19. It was a way he thought to get his life back on track. He was kind of on a shaky path and decided on his own that the Army would be great for him, and this is what he wanted to do."

He leaves behind a wife, Havalah, son Sebastian, 4, and daughter, Gwen, 3, and five younger sisters. Havalah and their kids live in Fort Stewart, Georgia. He planned to try or a transfer with his family to Fort Lewis to be closer to his parents and extended family and continue serving.

"He was 24 when he was killed, and buried on what would have been his 25th birthday, April 3," said Beaubien. "Kevin and Chris said they decided to bury him on his birthday because they brought him into the world on that day and they were sending him to a new world on that day.

"He loved to fish and taught himself how to play guitar," she added. "He loved to work on cars, and was restoring his car to make it a fast little sports car. He was also a wonderful woodworker."

"Brandon was always busy, always moving quickly," said his uncle, Jim. "Just a good kid. It was like one of my own (kids) got killed. You know what? These things are so horrible. I almost didn't come to this because I don't like remembering."

"I grew up with the Pitts's," recalled Diane Venti of Alki Arts Gallery, who attended. "Jodi Pitts was my best girlfriend throughout grade school. We were class of '80 at WSHS and went to Lafayette together, too. Christine is Jodi's little sister (and class of '81). It is a real stable family, real lovely people. It's a shame to lose your kids before you. It's horrible."

"I never met Brandon but it hit me hard," said event organizer and Alki resident Richard Paddon, who was raised in West Seattle and attended high school with some of the family members. Paddon said he asked 12 musicians if they would volunteer to perform at the memorial "and they each said 'yes'," he said. A trust fund has been set up for Brandon's two children.

Most band members are West Seattle residents and known in the area and attended school with Chistine or her siblings. They include Rod Moody, Pat Tunison, Joe Bauer, John Bradley, Bill Reid, Monty Smith, Shel Van Taylor, Jon Sleight, Michael Wolfe, Mike Winston, Doug & Jay Marrapodi.

For more information, email Richard Paddon at: rpmotorsports@yahoo.com.